DeKalb population shrinking

Unfortunately, it may be only the latest sign of the declining population of DeKalb, along with other areas of Chicagoland.

According to data compiled by United Van Lines, the largest mover in the country, more people moved out of the Chicago metro area between May and August of this year than moved in.

In fact, the Chicago metro, along with New York City and St. Louis, were the areas with the most people moving out when compared to the number of people moving in.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, DeKalb’s population declined 0.6 percent between 2010 and 2012 to 43,842.

Where is everyone going?

According to United, the Seattle area is among the top metropolitan areas in the country with the largest influx of people moving in as compared with the number of people moving out.

Other metro areas seeing the biggest influx of new residents include San Jose, Calif., Portland, Ore., and San Francisco, according to the moving company.

Michael Stoll, economist, professor and chair of the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, told United, "The continued growth in the tech sector is drawing people to Northern California, but the high cost of living in Silicon Valley is causing tech companies and workers to migrate north to Seattle.”

The moving company reported that residential moves were up 8.5 percent during the peak period from May through August when compared to the same period in 2012.

According to United, the top 10 moving destinations in the country during the peak period were Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Houston; Chicago; Seattle; Dallas; Portland, Ore.; Phoenix; Denver and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the top 10 cities families were moving from during this period were Washington, D.C., Chicago; Boston, Atlanta; Phoenix; New York City; Los Angeles, Dallas, San Diego and Minneapolis. Seattle placed 12th on this list.

Other metro areas experiencing population growth according to the moving company’s data include Charlotte and Raleigh, both in North Carolina; Tampa, Fla.; and Atlanta.]]>